Fire in south London forces 310 residents to flee

LONDON: Around 310 people had to be evacuated early on Thursday after a fire at a building site spread to nearby flats in south London.

More than 125 firefighters were tackling the blaze in Peckham.

According to the Metropolitan Police, ten people have sought hospital treatment, including two police officers who were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation. No one is believed to have suffered serious injuries, the police added.

The fire is thought to have started at a building site near Carisbrooke Gardens around 0430 GMT and spread rapidly to nearby flats.

The Metropolitan Police said the affected flats and buildings were in Sumner Road and Rosemary Road.

One resident who fled the scene spoke of flames shooting 20ft high.

The Peckham fire comes just five months after a blaze in a tower block in nearby Camberwell killed six people, including a three-week old baby and two children.